CONFIDENTIAL
4.
The Governor is attracted to the idea of a
Prime Ministerial message to LegCo. The debate in the LegCo Finance Committee on 8 February was an unusually long and contentious one by Hong Kong standards and the Committee was sharply divided on this issue. The members who argued that Hong Kong should be seen to play its part at a time of international crisis, took a considerable political risk in doing so. A message from the Prime Minister would therefore be greatly appreciated by those who voted in favour of a
contribution.
ARPanc
A R Paul
ASHAFL/2
CONFIDENTIAL